Interview with Nancy Keesing (When the war came to Australia)

Mrs Keesing was a student doing the Intermediate Certificate at the outbreak of the war. As a Jew, she and her family became aware of the problems in Europe and her family over there migrated to America, or Australia and some were put in concentration camps. She volunteered for work at Garden Island, as her contribution to the war effort. She describes the incident when the Kuttabul, an old ferry used for accommodation of Naval ratings, was sunk by a Japanese midget submarine. Mrs Keesing sketches rationing- petrol, linen, food, tea, sanitary needs, silk and cigarettes were all rationed. She mentions work conditions- sick leave and holiday leave. She uncovered a petrol selling racket operating in Garden Island. Mrs Keesing describes the racial problems between the American servicemen and the Australian servicemen- the Americans were better dressed, went out with girls already engaged. There were also some problems between black and white American servicemen.